On tough day, rookie Riley gives U.S. team needed boost

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, September 18, 2004

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP - When the United States needed a lift, it turned to - who else? - Chris Riley.

Playing in his first Ryder Cup, Riley teamed with Tiger Woods to post USA's first convincing win of these matches. The duo defeated Darren Clarke-Ian Poulter 4 & 3 in Saturday morning's foursomes match.

"I was pretty much free-wheeling out there because I knew I was going to have a backup," Riley said. "I helped on maybe one or two holes on the front nine. I was tired of watching (Woods) play by himself, so then I made some putts on the back nine."

The Americans entered the day facing a 6.5-1.5 deficit.

"We were embarrassed yesterday," Riley said. "We lost 6.5 - 1.5, so we were swinging today."

Riley is not a stranger to pressure. He finished fourth in the PGA Championship, and that moved him up from 18th to 10th place on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list and got him on the team.

Riley made two crucial birdies which ended up giving the Americans key victories. Already 1-up after winning the first hole, Riley birdied the par-5 second hole to give the U.S. some breathing room.

After the match went back and fourth for nine holes, Riley got hot again. Back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes moved the American duo 4-up with five holes to play.

After Europe won the 14th hole, Riley sank a birdie on the 15th to give the Americans their first point on Saturday.

Following the win, he got an emotional hug from Woods.

For Woods, it was a rare victory in the team competition. He headed into Saturday's matches with a four-ball record of 2-5.

The pairing of Riley and Woods looked like a perfect match, especially in the morning. It was a stark contrast to Friday, when Woods and Phil Mickelson both looked uncomfortable in losing twice.

"I made it a point to walk with him on every hole and talk about things," Riley said. "We didn't talk about the matches, just talked about life and that's pretty much what it's all about.

"We were reminiscing about our junior golf days. We played a team match when we were 15. We were paired up and we beat somebody like 5 & 4."

Riley electrified the crowd with a 9-iron on the 150-yard, 13th hole that ended up inches from the cup.

It was the second straight day that Riley has been a leader for the Americans. In Friday's four-ball competition, the Ryder Cup rookie sank an 8-foot putt on the 18th hole to give the U.S. its only half-point of the morning session.

"I had a really good feeling about that match," U.S. captain Hal Sutton said. "You know, they are good friends and Chris had to feel really relaxed because of being out there with Tiger."

Riley sat out Saturday afternoon's alternate shot competition.

"I've never played alternate shot," Riley admitted. "But to tell you the truth, I'm tired … I want to be fresh and ready to go tomorrow morning.

"This is my first Ryder Cup and I'm drained, so I told him (Sutton) that I wasn't ready to go."

While Woods was busy regrouping, Mickelson was held out of Saturday morning's four-ball competition. Mickelson struggled on Friday and U.S. captain Hal Sutton elected to let him relax.

Mickelson turned into an assistant coach, as he spent much of the morning alongside Sutton.

In Ryder and Presidents Cup matches, Mickelson has lost seven straight matches. He was 0-5 last year at the Presidents Cup and 0-2 on Friday.